Cup dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cup dispensing apparatus for vending machines is provided with a dual function, unitary, mechanical sensing and indexing device adjacent a rotary cup supply turret, which checks, during each vending cycle, whether the supply of cups at the cup releasing station has been depleted, and, if so, drivingly engages the turret to index a replacement supply of cups to the station. Supply turrets of assorted capacities and diameters may be interchanged without modification of the cup releasing mechanism.

United States Patent 1191 Moss et al. 1 Apr. 30, 1974 [54] CUP DISPENSING APPARATUS 2,497,718 2/1950 Earley 1:! 111 221/104 [75] Inventors: Charles A. Moss, Lees Summit,

M04 Kermit w Dyer, Overland Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Park, Kans Assistant Examiner-H. Grant Skaggs, Jr.

' Attorney, Agermor FirmSchmidt, Johnson, Hovey &

[73] Assignee: The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Williams 22 Filed: Sept. 27, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [2 APP N 292,610 A cup dispensing apparatus for vending machines is provided with a dual function, unitary, mechanical 52 US. 01 221/11, 221 /104, 221 /222 sensing and f device l 51 1111.11 6071 11/12 Ply turret, whlch Checks durmg each vemlmg Cycle, 58 Field of Search 221/103, 104, 105, 4, 6, whether the Supply of cups at the cuP releasmg Station 1 1 1, has been depleted, and, SO, engages the turret to index a replacement supply of cups to the 56] References Cited station. Supply turrets of assorted capacities ancl diam- UNITED STATES PATENTS eters may be interchanged without modification of the cup releasing mechanism. 2,860,817 11/1958 Bell 221/104 2,925,196 2/l960 Stoner 221 /222 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRBOW cal-807L600 sum 10F 3 v PATENTEB-APR 30 m4 SHEET 2 [IF 3 PATENTEDAPR 30 m4 SHEET 3 BF 3 CUP DISPENSING APPARATUS This invention relates to cup dispensing apparatus for use in beverage vending machines and, more particularly, to improvements in such apparatus for sensing the depletion of the supply of cups in the columnar stack thereof disposed at the cup releasing station and for then automatically advancing the cup supply turret to move the next stack of cups to the station.

Beverage vending machines typically employ a rotatable turret assembly which carries a number of upright stacks or columns of nested cups adapted to be successively moved into operative alignment with a cup separating and releasing mechanism. Each column of cups is successively stationed at the releasing mechanism for botton delivery until all or practically all of the cups of the column so located have been depleted, at which time the turret is indexed to bring a replacement column of cups to the releasing mechanism. Indexing of the turret to present a replacement column'is often carried out in increments, each of which is less than the amount necessary to advance the replacement column to the releasing mechanism so that indexing may begin while a few cups still remain at the releasing mechanism from the preceding column. Then, during each subsequent cup release, the replacement column is indexed a corresponding increment until, by the time all of the previous cups of a given column have been released, the replacement column is fully in alignment with the releasing mechanism and the new supply of cups is available for the next vend cycle of the machine.

Various forms of separating and releasing mechanisms have heretofore been used satisfactorily, and it is not the purpose of the present invention to improve upon such previous separating and releasing mechanisms per se. However, in conjunction with such releasing and separating mechanisms, assorted structures and systems have heretofore been employed for performing the functions of sensing when the supply of cups at the releasing mechanism approaches depletion and for indexing a replacement column of cups into position at the mechanism, which structures and systems have generally been less than satisfactory for a number of reasons. Known previous structures and systems for accomplishing the sensing and indexing functions have been characterized by their complicated, and accordingly costly, nature,-their limited reliability, and their high maintenance requirements. Previous mechanical structures for producing the necessary functions have employed a complex arrangement of levers and linkages, typically including certain parts for performing solely the sensing function and other parts for performing only the indexing function. Electrical systems have also been tried, which have employed switching circuits to sense when a cup supply has been depleted and electromechanical components responsive to the switching circuits for indexing the turret as required, but these have suffered from the usual difficulties of employing such components in the damp, refrigerated environment of beverage vending machine interiors.

Accordingly, .one important object of this invention is to provide a simplified, virtually maintenance free mechanical means for both sensing the level of the cup supply column at the cup releasing station and automatically indexing a replacement supply of cups to the station as required to assure that cups are available for all vend cycles.

In achieving the foregoing object, it is another important object of this invention to provide a single, unitary device adjacent the cup releasing station for mechanically performing the dual functions of sensing cup depletion and indexing a replacement supply of cups to the releasing station.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a dual function, unitary sensing and indexing device as aforesaid, which is operable to perform its cup sensing function without any interference to the deposit of a replacement cup supply at the releasing station either during loading or subsequent to the determination by such device-that a new supply is required.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a dual function, unitary sensing and indexing device which may be readily placed in use in conjunction with a conventional and proven type of separating and releasing mechanism, requiring only minor modification and adaptation thereof.

Another important object of this invention is to provide, in association with the unique, dual function sensing and indexing device, the ability to interchange rotatablecup supply turrets of assorted sizes and capacities with one another while retaining the same cup separating and releasing mechanism and without adversely affecting the ability of the sensing and indexing device to perform its required functions.

Still other important objects of this invention will be noted or become apparent from the drawings and description of the invention which follows.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of cup dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view of the apparatus taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1, with certain parts broken away for clar- FIG. 3 is an enlarged, bottom plan view of the apparatus indicating in solid lines the standby condition of a portion of the cup releasing mechanism and its operating cam and in phantom lines their condition immediately following the release of a cup;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the apparatus taken substantially along irregular line 44 of FIG. 2, with a diminished column of cups being shown at the releasing station;

FIG. Sis a fragmentary cross sectional view of the apparatus taken substantially along irregular line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partially side elevational and partially sectional view of the apparatus taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 2 showing the dual function sensing and indexing device in cross section;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, essentially diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the dual function device when the cup supply is not depleted;

FIG. 8 is an essentially diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the operation of the dual function device when the cup supply at the releasing station is depleted to a predetermined level; and

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the apparatus with a larger capacity, empty replacement turret assembly and a modified dual function device substituted for those of the earlier figures, the upper portion of the substitute turret assembly being broken away to reveal details of construction. I

Apparatus is adapted for use in a conventional beverage vending machine in which customer deposit of a preselected amount of coinage causes delivery of a cup to a filling station and subsequent release of a predetermined amount of selected beverage into the awaiting cup. A base casting 12 of apparatus 10 has an upstanding spindle unit 14 (FIGS. 2 and 5) mounted thereon, which rotatablysupports a turret assembly 16 for successively bringing upright supply tubes 18 into registration with a circular opening 20 in the top of base 12 defining a cup separating and releasing station.

ermost wheel 22 having a central upright hub 24 that is rotatably mounted on the spindle unit 14. A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 26 are provided in wheel 22 to clear cups-for downward movement from the corresponding tubes 18 communicating therewith, the number of such openings 26 and the consequent diameter of wheel 22 being optional as will hereinafter be discussed in more detail. A holding plate 28 at the upper end of turret 16 has a number of openings corresponding in number and location to openings 26 for receiving the uppermost ends of tubes 18, there being a plurality of upright tie rods 30 about hub 24 which firmly interconnect top plate 28 with wheel 22 to securely hold tubes 18 in place. A removable cover 32 on top plate 28 permits access to tubes 18 for restocking thereof.

T The spindle unit 14 has three legs 34, 36, and 38 which carry a generally circular slide plate 40 directly beneath wheel 22 to facilitate rotation of the latter during indexing and to provide sliding support for the low-' errnost cups of the stacks in the tubes 18 during such rotation. The plate 40 is cut away to clear the opening 20 for receiving the column of cups next to be dispensed. A number of circumferentiallyspaced, antifriction buttons 42 project below the lower surface of wheel 22 for sliding along the surface-of plate 40, and a spring loaded detent 44 projects upwardly from leg 34 through plate 40 and into releasable holding relationship with any one of a series of annularly spaced sockets 46 in wheel 22 about hub 24. Sockets 46 are positioned with respect to the openings 26 in such a manner that detent 44 operates to releasably retain wheel 22 against rotation when one of the openings 26 is aligned with the opening 20 of base 12 defining the releasing station.

Housed beneath base 12 and within the latter is cup separating and dispensingmechanism denoted by the numeral 48. Mechanism 48 is conventional and need, therefore, be only generally described. Reference may be made by those not already familiar with such mechanisms to US. Pat. No. 2,860,817, issued Nov. 18, 1958, and US. Pat. No. 2,925,196, issued Feb. 16, 1960, for a fuller explanation of the construction and operation of mechanism 48. Briefly, however, mechanism 48 includes a plurality of individually rotatable cams 50 which surround and support the lip of a lowermost cup presented to mechanism 48 and are operated by a ring gear 53 encircling cams 50. Cams 50 operate on the basis of a snap-action release which is accomplished through a stiff tension spring 54 joining the rotatable ring gear 52 with a stationary part of mechanism 48 so that ring gear 52 is biased toward the dotted line position thereof indicated in FIG. 3. During standby, ring gear 52 is held against the action of spring 54 in its full line condition of HO. 3 and, upon instantaneous removal of the holding force, ring gear 52 snaps to its dotted line position, hence rotating cams 50 to release the ergized by a remote switch (not shown) and maintained in operation by a holding circuit established by the closing of a switch 66 until cam 56 has been rotated through 360. Another switch 68 operates in response to a swingable feeler 70 to register a sold out condition in the absence of any cups within the confines of mechanism 48.

The special dual function device which both senses depletion of the cup supply at releasing station 20 and indexes turret 16 for advancement of a new column of cups to station 20 is denoted broadly by the numeral 72 and includes a light weight arm 74 swingably mounted on a post 76 which projects upwardly from ring gear 52 through an arcuate slot 78 in the upper surface of base 12. Arm 74 is removably mounted on post 76 by means of a mounting screw 80 and biased toward the releasing station defined by opening 20 by a light torsion spring 82 which surroundspost 76. A cup sensing component 84 on arm 74 is essentially triangular shaped and projects normally horizontally from arm 74 toward station 20 at a level a short distance thereabove. Arm 74 is also provided with a pawl 86 which extends upwardly in perpendicular relationship to sensing component 84 for driving engagement with ratchet teeth 88 formed about the periphery of wheel 22 under predetermined conditions of cupdepletion hereinafter explained.

In preparing the apparatus 10 for operation, each of the cup supply tubes l8 may be loaded, after removal of cover 32, with an upright column of nested cups 90, with all cup columns but the one aligned with station 20 resting upon the slide plate 40 which underlies wheel 22. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the cup column which is aligned with the releasing station defined by opening 20 in base 12 slips downwardly through opening 20 until the cams 50 of releasing mechanism 48 engage and support the lip of the lowermost cup in the column. In this condition, the lower extremity of the lowermost cup 90a projects downwardly beyond base 12 through mechanism 48 toward the point of subsequent delivery, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

it maybe noted that the sensing component 84 of device 72 does not interfere with the loading of cups into the empty tube 18 aligned with the opening 20, because, as illustrated in FIG. 2 (which shows-the tubes 18 in empty condition), when the ring gear 52 is in its standby position, the post 76 thereon is disposed near the clockwise end of slot 78 and the stopping engage ment of the pawl 86 with the periphery of wheel 22 when the post 76 and device 72 are in this position holds the sensing component 84 in a position clearing the opening 22. Such standby condition of the ring gear 52 is also shown in full lines in the bottom view of FIG. 3, where it will be seen that the ring gear 52 is just ready to be snapped to its dotted line position by spring 54, but is being held against such action by the engagement of bulb 60 in indentation 58 of cam member 56. It will be understood, therefore, that whenever the apparatus l0 andgear 52 thereof is in its standby condition, the sensing component 84 will be held in clearing relationship to the opening 20 or any column of cups aligned with such opening 20 until rotation of the cam 56 releases the bulb 60 and ring gear 52 for movement to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3, which thereby moves the post 76 and device 72 toward the counterclockwise end of slot 84, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, whereupon the device 72 may perform its sensing function and then initiate its indexing function as hereinafter described.

During normal operation, upon the 'deposit of a proper amount of coinage within the beverage vending machine with which apparatus 10 is associated, motor 62 is energized to drive cam member 56 in a clockwise direction viewing FIG. 3, simultaneously closing switch 66 to establish a holding circuit for motor 62. Such initial rotation of cam 56 allows bulb 60 to slip out of indentation 58 and into the cut out section 56b so that spring 54 may snap ring gear 52 to its dotted line position. Such snapping action rotates the cams 50 and releases the lowermost cup 90a therefrom for delivery to a beverage filling station. This allows the'next to the lowermost cup to drop into supported relationship upon the cams 50.

During the rotation of earns 50, the ring gear 52 moves concentrically to opening and carries the sensing and indexing device 72 therewith until post 76 is adjacent the counterclockwise end of slot 78 as shown in FIG. 7. The position of device 72 in this figure corresponds with the snapped position of ring gear '52 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. During such movement of device 72, the torsion spring 82 tries to swing arm 76 and hence sensing component 84 across opening 20 between wheel 22 and the top surface of base 12. If, as depicted in FIG. 7, at least a predetermined number of cups 90 remain available at mechanism 48, so that a cup is present at the level of component 84, then sensing component 84 engagesthe marginal side portion of the cup at its level and is precluded from further inward swinging during rearward travel of the device 72; the outermost inclined edge of component 84 then slides along one of the cups to retain pawl 86 .out of engagement with teeth 88.

Once the release of the lowermost cup 90a has been effected and the cup level verified by device 72, the holding circuit completed by the closing of switch 66 (FIG. 3) causes continued operation of motor 62 to continue clockwise rotation of cam member 56 until cam 56, bulb 60 and ring gear 52 are returned to their standby positions, as shown in full lines in FIG. 3. During such rotation of cam 56, portion 56a thereof progressively bears against bulb 60 to move gear 52 back toward its standby position against the bias of spring 54. When cam 56 has rotated 360 to once again bring bulb 60 into indentation 58, switch 66 is allowed to reopen, thus breaking the holding circuit for motor 62 to de-energize the latter.

As ring gear 52 is thus returned to its initial full line position of FIG. 3, device 72 is similarly returned to its standby position adjacent the clockwise end of slot 78, as shown in FIG. 2. When a sufficient number of cups are present at mechanism 48, as sensed by component 84, pawl 86 is maintained in spaced relationship to the teeth 88, so as not to index the wheel 22, while component 84 slides against the engaged cup until device 72 once again is in its standby position. Pawl 86 then again rests upon one of the teeth 88 as illustrated in FIG. 2, so that the sensing component 84 is maintained in slightly spaced relationship to the cups at mechanism 48 to avoid any interference with their normal release.

The sensing and indexing device 72 thus reciprocates with the post 76 moving along the arcuate slot 78 as the ring gear 52 is oscillated by the cam 56 during each operating cycle of the dispensing apparatus 10. As long as the column of cups aligned with station 20 of mechanism 48 has not been depleted to a point at which a re placement cup supply is required, the pawl 86 is maintained continuously out of engagement with teeth 88 by the engagement of component 84 with the remaining cups during the complete reciprocating stroke of device 72. When, on the other hand, the supply of cups 90 at station 20 is depleted below a predetermined level (such as, for example, fewer than nine cups), as determined by the height of sensing component 84 above base 12, component 84 will have no cup to en gage as device 72 is moved during the reciprocation of post 76 toward the counterclockwise end of slot 78, and the device 72 will swing upon post 76 under the influence of spring 82 to dispose pawl 86 in ratcheting relationship with the teeth 88, as shown in FIG. 8. Accordingly, on the return stroke of device 72, pawl 86 will drivingly engage an adjacent tooth 88 and will index wheel 22 a distance determined by the length of the return stroke of device 72. Preferably, the indexing of wheel 22 occurs incrementally, such that several repeated indexing strokes by pawl 86 are required to move the next opening 26 and the replacement column of cups in the next tube 18 into registration with mechanism 48.- The new column of replacement cups then drops from slide plate 40 into and through opening 20 until they are engaged and supported by the cams 50 or by any remaining cups from the previous cup column that are still held by the cams 50. In either event, it is to be appreciated that, by virtue of maintaining the sensing component 84 out of a disposition in'which it may contact a cup when device 72 is in its normal standby position, the replacement column of cups may readily drop into proper position at mechanism 48 without interference from component 84.

The turret assembly 16 is mounted on base 12 in such a manner that turret 16 may be readily interchanged with other turrets having a greater or smaller number of tubes 18 to provide corresponding cup capacities and, accordingly, greater or smaller diameter wheels 22. By way of example only, wheel 22 has to this point been shown and described as having a capacity for six columns of cups 90, but it is to be understood that in many instances it may be desirable to provide a greater or smaller number of replacement cups, depending upon marketing and servicing factors associated with the location at which the beverage vending machine employing apparatus 10 is to be stationed. The interchangeability of turret assembly 16 with other turrets of different capacity is expedited in the apparatus 10 by the removable mounting of spindle unit 14 on base 12 and its ability to be relocated at any one of a number of other selectable positions on base 12 relative to the cup releasing station as defined by opening 20. To this end, a-plurality of holes 92 are provided in the top surface of base 12 for selectively receiving a threaded fastener 94 (FIG. 5), which extends through the selected hole 92 into threaded engagement with spindle unit 14. For purposes of illustration, only a pair of holes 92 have been shown (see FIG. 2), one corresponding to a six column turret assembly, and another corresponding to a nine column assembly. A pair of upwardly projecting locating nibs 96 are also provided on the upper face of base 12, one nib 96 for the six column turret and the other for the nine column turret, it being understood that a hole 92 and a nib 96 should be provided for each turret capacity contemplated. The nibs 96 are selectively receivable within a cavity 38a (FIG. 5) of leg 38 on spindle unit 14 so that the latter may easily be'properly oriented with respect to the releasing station for any selected turret size. A plurality of upstanding, internally threaded bosses 98 are also provided on the upper surface of base 12 for threadably receiving screws 100 to selectively fasten a properly sized slide plate 40 in place, there being three sets of the bosses 98 for different turret sizes, with certain of the bosses 98 being utilized for more than one turret size.

interchanging of one turret 16 with another is readily accomplished by first removing the current turret 16 from spindle unit 14. The corresponding slide plate 40 may then be removed from bosses 98, as well as the spindle unit 14 itself by removing screw 94. Spindle unit 14 is then replaced at the proper location, corresponding to the size of the replacement turret assembly, a correspondinglysized plate 40 is installed, and the replacement turret is placed upon the relocated spindle l4.

As shown in FIG. 9, the six column turret assembly 16 has been replaced by a nine column capacity turret assembly 116 with a larger diameter wheel 122. The spindle unit 14 has been removed from its location in FIG. 2 and moved leftwardly viewing FIGS. 2 and 9 over the appropriate hole 92 and locating nib 96. It is to benoted that unit 14 is rotated approximately 90 from its FIG. 2 position, in view of the difference in position of the nib 96 for the nine column turret 116 relative to the hole 92 for the nine column turret, as compared with the relative positions of the nib 96 and hole 92 for the five column turret 16. Further, a larger diameter slide plate 140 has been provided and mounted with the same screws 100 being used to fasten the new plate 140 upon the appropriate bosses 98.

' 'A slightly modified form of device 72 is also used with the nine column capacity turret 116, such modified device bearing the reference numeral 172 and differing from device 72 only in dimensioning, being provided with a shorter pawl 186 and a more prolongated sensing component 184. In operational respects, the device 172 of FIG. 9, as well as the larger turret assembly 116, are identical to the device 72 and assembly 16 described in FIGS. 1-8. With the turret 116 and device 172, however, the apparatus 10 is adapted for storing a larger supply of replacement cups while providing the same reliable cup sensing and turret indexing action.

It will be appreciated that minor modifications may be made in the invention as described for illustration purposes without departing from the true spirit of this invention. Accordingly, the invention should be limited only by the fair scope of the claims which follow.

We claim: i

1. Cup dispensing apparatus comprising:

a base;

means including a cup dispensing mechanism on said base presenting a station from which cups are to be released, said mechanism being operable when actuated for separating and releasing the lowermost cup from a column of nested cups disposed at said station;

a cup supply turret assembly for carrying a plurality of columns of nested cups;

means rotatably mounting said assembly on said base for selective positioning of said assembly to dispose any of said columns of cups at said station;

cyclic actuating means operably coupled with said mechanism for actuating the latter; and combination cup supply sensing and turret assembly indexing means including a shiftable device, said device being operably coupled with said actuating means for reciprocation of said device between a standby position and a displaced position during each cycle of operation of said actuating means,

portions of said device being movable laterally with respect to its path of reciprocation and toward and away from said turret assembly and said releasing station,

one of said portions of said device being engageable with a column of cups at said station to hold another portion of said device out of indexing engagement with said turret assembly during movement of said device from its standby position to its displaced position when an undepleted column of cups is present at said station,

said another portion being operably engageable with said turret assembly for indexing the latter'during movement of said device from its displaced position to its standby position when any column of cups at said station is depleted to at least a predetermined extent,

said one portion of the device comprising a sensing component having an outer edge for slidably contacting cups during reciprocation of the device.

2. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said assembly includes a ratchet wheel, said another portion of the device comprising a pawl for said wheel adjacent said component.

3. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said wheel has a series of ratchet teeth about the outer periphery thereof, said path of reciprocable travel of the device being disposed outside said periphery of the wheel.

4. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sensing component projects away from said pawl at substantially a right angle thereto for disposition of said component beneath said wheel while the pawl remains outside said periphery of the wheel.

5. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base is provided with an opening through which cups at said mechanism are dispensed, said mounting means for said assembly including a spindle removably mounted on said base at any selected one of a number of locations relative to said opening for accommodating different assemblies of various diameters and cup capacities.

6. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein is provided an elongated, releasable fastener for securing the spindle to said base and a plurality of predeterminedly located holes in the base for selectively receiving said fastener.

7. Cup dispensing apparatus comprising: a base; means including a cup dispensing mechanism on said base presenting a station from which cups are to be released, said mechanism being operable when actuated for separating and releasing the lowermost cup from a column of nested cups disposed at said station; a cup supply turret assembly for carrying a plurality of columns of nested cups, said assembly including a ratchet wheel;

means rotatably mounting said assembly on said base for selective positioning of said assembly to dispose any of said columns of cups at said station;

cyclic actuating means operably coupled with said mechanism for actuating the latter; and

a single, unitary, shiftable, combination cup supply sensing and turret assembly indexing device,

said device being operably coupled with said actuating means for reciprocation of said device between a standby position and a displaced position during each cycle of operation of said actuating means,

portions of said device being movable laterally with respect to its path of reciprocation and toward and away from said turret assembly and said releasing station,

one of said portions of said device being engageable with a column of cups at said station to hold another portion of said device out of indexing engagement with said turret during movement of said device from its standby position to its displaced position when an undepleted column of cups is present at said station, said one portion of the device comprising a sensing component having an outer edge for slidably contacting cups during reciprocation of the device,

said another portion being operably engageable with said turret assembly for indexing the latter during movement of said device from its displaced position to its standby position when any column of cups at said station is depleted to at least a predetermined extent, said another portion comprising a pawl for ratcheting said wheel.

8. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said wheel has a series of ratchet teeth about the outer periphery thereof, said path of reciprocable travel of the device being disposed outside said periphery of the wheel.

9. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sensing component projects away from said pawl at substantially a right angle thereto for disposition of said component beneath said wheel while the pawl remains outside said periphery of the wheel. l= l= 

1. Cup dispensing apparatus comprising: a base; means including a cup dispensing mechanism on said base presenting a station from which cups are to be released, said mechanism being operable when actuated for separating and releasing the lowermost cup from a column of nested cups disposed at said station; a cup supply turret assembly for carrying a plurality of columns of nested cups; means rotatably mounting said assembly on said base for selective positioning of said assembly to dispose any of said columns of cups at said station; cyclic actuating means operably coupled with said mechanism for actuating the latter; and combination cup supply sensing and turret assembly indexing means including a shiftable device, said device being operably coupled with said actuating means for reciprocation of said device between a standby position and a displaced position during each cycle of operation of said actuating means, portions of said device being movable laterally with respect to its path of reciprocation and toward and away from said turret assembly and said releasing station, one of said portions of said device being engageable with a column of cups at said station to hold another portion of said device out of indexing engagement with said turret assembly during movement of said device from its standby position to its displaced position when an undepleted column of cups is present at said station, said another portion being operably engageable with said turret assembly for indexing the latter during movement of said device from its displaced position to its standby position when any column of cups at said station is depleted to at least a predetermined extent, said one portion of the device comprising a sensing component having an outer edge for slidably contacting cups during reciprocation of the device.
 2. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said assembly includes a ratchet wheel, said another portion of the device comprising a pawl for said wheel adjacent said component.
 3. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said wheel has a series of ratchet teeth about the outer periphery thereof, said path of reciprocable travel of the device being disposed outside said periphery of the wheel.
 4. Cup dispensing aPparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said sensing component projects away from said pawl at substantially a right angle thereto for disposition of said component beneath said wheel while the pawl remains outside said periphery of the wheel.
 5. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base is provided with an opening through which cups at said mechanism are dispensed, said mounting means for said assembly including a spindle removably mounted on said base at any selected one of a number of locations relative to said opening for accommodating different assemblies of various diameters and cup capacities.
 6. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein is provided an elongated, releasable fastener for securing the spindle to said base and a plurality of predeterminedly located holes in the base for selectively receiving said fastener.
 7. Cup dispensing apparatus comprising: a base; means including a cup dispensing mechanism on said base presenting a station from which cups are to be released, said mechanism being operable when actuated for separating and releasing the lowermost cup from a column of nested cups disposed at said station; a cup supply turret assembly for carrying a plurality of columns of nested cups, said assembly including a ratchet wheel; means rotatably mounting said assembly on said base for selective positioning of said assembly to dispose any of said columns of cups at said station; cyclic actuating means operably coupled with said mechanism for actuating the latter; and a single, unitary, shiftable, combination cup supply sensing and turret assembly indexing device, said device being operably coupled with said actuating means for reciprocation of said device between a standby position and a displaced position during each cycle of operation of said actuating means, portions of said device being movable laterally with respect to its path of reciprocation and toward and away from said turret assembly and said releasing station, one of said portions of said device being engageable with a column of cups at said station to hold another portion of said device out of indexing engagement with said turret during movement of said device from its standby position to its displaced position when an undepleted column of cups is present at said station, said one portion of the device comprising a sensing component having an outer edge for slidably contacting cups during reciprocation of the device, said another portion being operably engageable with said turret assembly for indexing the latter during movement of said device from its displaced position to its standby position when any column of cups at said station is depleted to at least a predetermined extent, said another portion comprising a pawl for ratcheting said wheel.
 8. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said wheel has a series of ratchet teeth about the outer periphery thereof, said path of reciprocable travel of the device being disposed outside said periphery of the wheel.
 9. Cup dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sensing component projects away from said pawl at substantially a right angle thereto for disposition of said component beneath said wheel while the pawl remains outside said periphery of the wheel. 